An asteroid roughly the size of a bus, discovered only days ago, is set to pass extremely close to Earth, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The space rock, designated 2026 BA, will skim past our planet at a distance closer than many communication satellites, yet poses no threat of impact.
Close Approach Details
The asteroid, estimated to be between 10 and 20 meters in diameter, will make its closest approach on May 20, 2026, at approximately 11:27 AM EDT. It will pass within 30,000 kilometers of Earth's surface, well inside the orbit of geostationary satellites. This is considered a very close shave in astronomical terms.
Frequency of Such Events
While this particular asteroid was only spotted recently, NASA emphasizes that bus-sized objects enter Earth's neighborhood several times each year. Most go unnoticed because they are small and often pass without incident. The agency's planetary defense systems continuously monitor for potentially hazardous asteroids.
Detection and Tracking
The asteroid was first detected by the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona on May 16. Subsequent observations by telescopes around the world refined its trajectory, confirming it will miss Earth. NASA's Sentry impact monitoring system ruled out any collision risk.
What If It Hit?
An object of this size would likely disintegrate in the atmosphere, creating a bright fireball and possibly producing meteorites. The energy released would be equivalent to a few kilotons of TNT, similar to the Chelyabinsk event in 2013, which injured over 1,000 people in Russia.
Planetary Defense Efforts
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which successfully altered an asteroid's orbit in 2022, demonstrates ongoing efforts to protect Earth. The agency also works with international partners to improve detection and response capabilities.
This close approach serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our solar system and the importance of continued vigilance in tracking near-Earth objects.
